Paul L. Kenney was born on 14 November 1916 in Newton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, to John James Kenney (1865-1937) (Ireland) and Bridget (Sheridan) Kenney (1873-1950) (Ireland). Siblings included Mary A. (Kenney) Waters (1899-1918), Francis Joseph Kenney (1901-1989), John James Kenney Jr. (1904-1909), William H. Kenney (1906-1963), John P. Kenney (1910-1971), and Florence E. Kenney (1914-1977). On 4 June 1938, he married Nora Maria Madaries (1918-1984) in Watertown, Massachusetts. They had a son, Gerald Paul Kenney (1939-1987). He graduated from Newton High School in May 1934.

He enlisted in the USAAF on 22 September 1942 in Boston, Massachusetts. He was trained in the repair and maintenance of the mechanical and electrical parts of the C-46. He earned his crewman wings. He was assigned to 20th Air Force in India, to the Air Transport Command. On 8 September 1944, a C-46A, # 41-61054, assigned to 20th Air Force, 2nd Air Transport Squadron (Mobile), departed the airfield at Kalaikunda, India, for a cargo transportation mission to Chengtu, China. Cpl. Kenney was the Assistant Crew Chief (Engineer). The last contact was by radio at about 0240 hours with Station Lalmanier Hat, in China. He is remembered on the memorial wall of the missing in the Manila American Cemetery & Memorial, Philippines. He was awarded the Air Medal. His obituary read:

The Watertown Sun, Friday Sept. 28, 1945

"A solemn high pro-burial mass will be celebrated tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock in St. Patrick's Church for Corporal Paul L. Kenney, husband of Nora Kenney. Cpl. Kenney has been listed as missing in India since September 8, 1944 -- and this month was officially declared dead by Army authorities.

A graduate of Newton High School, 1934, and former employee of Raytheon Mfg. Co. Waltham, enlisted in the Army Air Forces on September 15, 1942. He went overseas in May 1944 as an assistant crew chief on a commando transport plane.

He is survived by his wife, the former Nora Madaries, and son Gerald Paul, of 60 North Beacon Street; his mother Mrs. John Kenney, one sister and three brothers, all of Newtonville."